Train-pipe coupling.



T. C.'BRETT.

TRAIN PIIE UOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1909.

`Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

ANDRLW. l GRAHAM O0; MTO-UTHOWPNERS, WASNMGVDN. n Q

THOMAS C. BRETT, OF RED OAK, IOWA.

TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING'-,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application led September 21, 1909. Serial No. 518,757.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. BRETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Red Oak, in the county of Montgomery and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Train-Pipe Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of the present invention is the provision of novel means for connecting the air pipes of railway carsvso as to insure the setting of the brakes when required.

The invention is designed to provide coupling means which are automatic in action both in establishing communication between the train pipes of cars whenrun together and in shutting olf said train pipes when the cars are uncoupled thereby preventing the escape or waste of air. n

The invention also has for its object to devise a coupling which is wholly automatic in action, connecting the train pipes` and establishing communication between them when the cars are coupled and automatically separating and closing the train pipes when the cars are uncoupled.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of the specication:--Figure 1 is a top plan view of a train pipe coupling embodying the invention, one set of coupling elements being in longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of one coupling member. Fig. 3 is a -detail view of the universal joint between the coupling member and train pipe. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modification.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In accordance with this invention each end of a car is similarly equipped with a -coupling member whereby when two cars are run together the complemental coupling members engage and connect the train pipes. The coupling members may be of any desired construction and secured to the platform or bed timbers of railway cars in any cation between the smaller end of the chamber 5 and sleeve 1. A sleeve 7 is provided and arranged parallel with the sleeve 1 and is connected thereto by the intermediate part 4. 'Ihe sleeve 7 is provided at opposite ends with packing glands 8 which insure the formation of close joints between the said sleeve and a pipe or tube 9 constituting the main body of the coupling member. The pipe or tube 9 is slidably mounted in the sleeve 7 and is normally pressed forward by means of a spring 10 mounted upon the pipe 9 and conlined between a shoulder thereof and a bearing in which said pipe is mounted. An opening 11 is formed in a side of the pipe or tube 9 and communicates with the chamber 5. Portions of the tube or pipe 9 are contracted to form inner valve seats 12 and 13 with which valves 14 and 15 cooperate. An opening 16 is provided in a side of the pipe or tube 9 and extends through the seat 13. Both valves 14 and 15 are mounted upon a rod or stem 17 which is arranged to move within the pipe or tube 9. The valves 14 and 15 are of like formation and are hollow as indicated most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5 to admit of the passage of air or other fluid through them. The stem or rod 17 may consist of a rod or pipe and the valves 14 and 15 may be secured thereto in any manner. most clearly in Fig. 5 to have the stem or ad 17 connected to the valves by means of screw thread joints.

A coupling head is provided upon the outer end of the pipe or tube 9 and consists of a sleeve 18 tapered at its outer end as shown at 19 and provided at its inner or rear end with an enlargement 20 of a size and shape to snugly fit within the socket 3, said enlargement 2O having its outer surface covered with rubber 2l or other packing material to insure the formation of a tight joint between the socket 3 and enlargement 20 when complemental coupling members are run together. The outer tapered end 19 of the sleeve 18 is provided upon its inner side with a threaded opening to receive the It is preferred, as indicated threaded end of the stem or rod 17 whereby the several parts 17 18 and the valves ltand 15 move together. A spring 22 located in the forward end of the sleeve 18 normally exerts a forward pressure upon the sleeve 18 to force the stem or rod 17 and the valves 14 and 15 forward whereby the outlet openings 11 and 16 are normally closed when the coupling is out of action. dish 23 is mounted upon the stem or rod 17 and obtains a bearing against the front end of the pipe or tube 9 and serves to receive the end thrust of the spring 22. A packing gland 24 is fitted into a recess formed in the rear end of the enlargement 20 and insures the formation of a tight joint between the parts 18 and 9 so as to prevent escape of air.

The train pipe is indicated at 25-in Fig. 3 and is provided at one end with a couplino` member 26 of ball shape. The inner end o the pipe or tube 9 is provided with a coupling member 27 of approximately spherical or ball form to receive the ball `member 2G whereby a universal joint is provided between the two parts 9 and 25. In order to admit of the ready and convenient assembling of the parts one of the members as 27 is formed in sections, the sections being bolted or secured in any manner and adapted to have a packing ring between them to coperate with the vball member 26 forming a tight joint while at the same time admittingof the pipes 9 and 25 havingfree play whereby the cars may be moved without producing injury to the connecting parts cooperating with the train or air pipes of the brake system. The member 26 has openings 31 for the passage of the air.

The sleeves 1 and 7 of the coupling member applied to each end of a car lie side by side and are so arranged that the sleeve 7 upon the end of one car comes opposite to the sleeve 1 of the coupling member upon the adjacent end of the car to be coupled. Then-the cars are run together the tapered end 19 of the head 18 of one car enters the socket or flared portion 3 of the coupling member upon the other car and as the cars come together the coupling head 18 is pressed inward against the tension of the spring 22 thereby moving the stem or rod 17 inward and carrying the valves 14 and 15 therewith so as to uncover the openings 11 and 16 thereby permitting the air to pass from one column to the other. The sleeve 18 is also provided with an outlet opening 28 whereby communication is established between the several parts when assembled. Then the members of the train pipe coupling are assembled they are held in coperative relation by the coupling means connecting the cars, the spring 22 of each being compressed as indicated in Fig. 1. Then the cars are uncoupled the spring 2 2 of each train pipe coupling expands andrmoves the sleeve 18 outward carrying the stem or rod V17 therewith and moving the valves 141 and 15 so as to cover the outlet openings 11 and 1G.

It will be understood that the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the invention provides a train pipe coupling for railway cars which is wholly automatic in action both in coupling and uncoupling and in opening and closing the openings by means of which communication is established between the coupling members. It is also observed that the train pipe coupling herein disclosed will not interfere with the effective operation of the ordinary couplings for connecting the train pipes of railway cars.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the pipe 9 is provided with a cap 29 which is connected therewith by means of a screw threaded joint. The outer end of the cap 29 is reduced and provided with a stuffing box 30 through which the rod 17 passes. The spring 22 is mounted upon the reduced end of the cap 29. j

I"rom the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to'which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:-

1. In a train pipe coupling, the combination of a hollow member provided with lateral outlets, valves arranged within the hollow member for closing the outlets thereof and connected for simultaneous longitudinal movement, a movable coupling head having connection with said valves for movement therewith, means for normally holding' the valves closed, and the coupling head advanced.

2. A train pipe coupling comprising a hollow member having portions in its length contracted to form inner valve seats having lateral outlets, valves arranged to operate in said pipe to close the outlets thereof, a stem connecting said valves, and a springactuated coupling head having Vconnection with said stem to move therewith after unseating the valves and -disclosing the openings of the valve seats.

8. In a train pipe coupling, the combination ofa sleeve, a -pipe mounted in said sleeve and adapted to .move longitudinally, and having outlets in its sides, valves arranged Within the pipe for closing the outlets in the sides thereof, means connecting the valves, a coupling head slidably mounted upon said pipe and movable independently thereof, and connecting means between the said valves and coupling head whereby the valves and coupling head move in unison.

4L. In a train pipe coupling, the combination of a sleeve having a fiared socket at one end, a second sleeve spaced. from and'parallel with the first sleeve, a connection between the two sleeves `having a chamber in communication with each, a pipe slidably mounted in the second sleeve and provided in its sides with outlets, connected valves arranged within the pipe to close the outlets thereof, a coupling head mounted upon said pipe and having its outer end tapered and its inner end enlarged to fit the said socket at the outer end of the first-named sleeve, said coupling head having the valves connected therewith, and a spring for normally pressing the coupling head outward.

5. In a train pipe coupling, and in combination with the coupling member, a train pipe, a universal joint between the coupling' member and train pipe comprising ball shaped members, the inner ball shaped member having openings in its sides to establish communication between the two members.

6. In a train pipe coupling and in combination with a coupling member, and a train pipe, a universal joint between the two, the same comprising cooperating ball shaped members, the inner member having openings in its sides, and the outer member comprising sections which are adapted to be connected, and having a packing clamp between them to secure a close joint between the two members.

7. A train pipe coupling comprising similar members, each member comprising a sleeve closed at its inner end, and provided at its outer end with a` socket, a second sleeve spaced from and parallel with the first-named sleeve, a connecting piece between the two sleeves having a chamber which fiares toward said second sleeve, a pipe slidably mounted on the second sleeve, and having outlet openings in its sides, and having tapered valve seats, valves arranged within the said pipe normally closing the outlets thereof, a stem connecting the valves, a coupling head slidably mounted upon the pipe and having its outer end tapered and its inner end enlarged to correspond to the socket provided at the outer end of the firstmentioned sleeve, said coupling head having an opening in its side and having the stem connecting the valves attached thereto, and springs arranged to exert an outward or forward pressure upon the said pipe and couplingl head.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS C. BRETT.

Vitnesses:

ARTHUR MCGUIRE, GEO. G. HANNAN. 

